Hamill keeps eye on prize of team

WHEN fast-finishing Stephanie Rice loomed large over Samantha Hamill's right shoulder on Tuesday night, the Kawana Waters competitor saw her hopes slip away in the dying stages of the 200m butterfly final.

She was relegated to third, just missing a coveted berth in the Australian squad for the world championships.

Rather than wallow in self-pity, however, Hamill is itching to get back in the pool today for her final event at the Australian championships in Sydney.

The 20-year-old, a Delhi Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 400m individual medley, believes she is primed to produce her best result yet in her pet event.

“You have good days and bad days and I guess I had a bit of a bad day the other day,” she said yesterday.

“I still finished third and I'm still happy with that, but it would have been nice to get on the Australian team for the 200 fly.

“But things happen and you've got to move on.

“I'm racing again on Friday and I'll try and make the team for the 400m IM.

“I think I'll do pretty well. I'm heading for a PB.”

Hamill will need to swim under the world championships qualifying time to have a shot at making the national team.

“It's a pretty fast qualifying time this year at three minutes 49 seconds, so it's definitely a step up and everyone's going to have to swim fast,” she said.

“My personal best is 3.47, so if I swim well I should be under that qualifying time.”

Hamill still needs to finish in the top two to be guaranteed a berth in the squad.

“A personal-best time can only get me so far,” she said.

“Whether it's fast enough to make the team or not depends on how everyone else goes.

“There are some good up-and-coming kids in the 400m, so I'm not really sure how they're going to swim. I'll concentrate on my race because that's all I can really do.”

Hamill is seeded second for the event, which has preliminary races this morning and the final tonight, but she faces a stern test from Perth's Blair Evans and the Gold Coast's Amy Levings.

THE ever-present danger, however, is world-record holder Rice.

“There are at least three or four girls that will do really well and obviously Steph Rice, who is the fastest qualifier,” Hamill said.

“I think it will be a pretty fast race. I'm not sure what time will make first and second, but I'm hoping I will be in there.”

Hamill was hindered by injury at the start of the year, spending six weeks in recovery mode, but her past two months of training have “been pretty good”.

She said the championships had been hotly contested.

I think Alicia Coutts has probably been the standout at this meet so far, but everyone's doing really well,” she said.

“I guess the qualifying times to make the team have made everyone step up a little bit more this year.”